Novel System And Methods For Incorporating Firearm Ammunition Temperature &amp; Thermal Susceptibility To Improve Ballistic Calculator Algorithms And Fidelity

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to novel firearm design, manufacture, and use, and in particular a novel firing solution acquisition system designed to improve the fidelity of a firing solution generated from a ballistics calculator in order to improve accuracy and hit probability for rifles and other firing systems while also reducing collateral damage.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/183,540, filed May 3, 2021. The entire specification and figures of the above-referenced application are hereby incorporated, in their entirety by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to firearm design and systems for improved firing solution acquisition. The present invention relates to systems and methods of monitoring of the flight path and/or impact of a projectile from a firearm for subsequent refinements of the firing solution for the operator or the transmission of this information to another operator who may or may not be located near the first operator.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Rifles and other firing systems use a propellant to launch a kinetic weapon toward a target. Accuracy is important for effectiveness and for the prevention of collateral damage. Traditional firing solutions available to operators of rifles and other firing systems do not take into account the thermal sensitivities of the ammunition, rifle characteristics, and overall effect of the velocity of a projectile based on the temperature of the propellant at the moment of ignition. This is true even though it is well understood that propellants for rifles and other firing systems have thermal sensitivities that affect their burn rates, net pressure generated, and velocity of the projectile and subsequent flight path.

As such, there is a long-felt need for a firing system that takes into account the thermal sensitivities associated with the temperature of the propellant allowing an operator to predict the muzzle velocity of the projectile more accurately in order to improve accuracy and hit probability. There are many different entities that could benefit from a higher fidelity ballistic calculator that improves accuracy, increases hit probability, and reduces collateral damage. Examples of such groups include, but are not limited to: the civilian market, including competitive shooters, hunters and the like; law enforcement officers; the United States military and governmental agencies; private security contractors; and foreign military and foreign governmental agencies.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One aspect of the invention includes systems, methods, and apparatus to provide an improved firing solution based on multiple environmental characteristics. In a preferred embodiment, this invention may allow an operator to predict the muzzle velocity of the projectile more accurately in order to improve accuracy and hit probability. In one aspect, the invention includes a novel firing solution acquisition system having one or more temperature measurement devices capable of monitoring the temperature of one, or a plurality of rifles or firing system components, including but not limited to: a magazine or ammunition storage component, pathway by which the ammunition travels from its storage location to the portion of the rifle or firing system that ignites or propels the projectile, and components of the rifle or firing system with which the projectile or ammunition may come into direct or indirect contact or proximity, such as a barrel and the like.

In a preferred embodiment, the novel firing solution acquisition system of the invention applies one or more algorithms, equations, sensors, timers, reference data (from the manufacturer or experimental measurements), and look-up tables, for example as shown in FIG. 1, to predict the pressure generated to propel the projectile and subsequently the velocity and firing solution. Timers in particular are used to keep track of and predict the temperatures of thermally sensitive components that cannot be directly measured, although these components do interface with parts of the firing system where temperatures can be directly measured. Predicting the velocity of the projectile allows use of that prediction to improve parameters including but not limited to the fidelity of the firing solution, accuracy, hit probability, and collateral damage.

The components of the data acquisition and ballistic calculator device that generates the firing solution based on measurements or data collected from the rifle or firing system and ammunition may be physically incorporated onto the rifle or firing system or positioned remotely, for example by being transmitted to a mobile computer device, such as a laptop, mobile phone, tablet, or other similar device. Ultimately these components may be used to communicate a better firing solution to the operator regardless of their format, lay out, and physical location. The output of the firing solution produced by the novel invention and other feedback may be communicated to the operator and could, include but is not limited to, a numerical display within his field of view, an audible description of the firing solution or modification to the firing solution, and instructions sent directly to the rifle or firing system to automatically compensate for the output of the firing solution produced by the novel invention.

This last group could include but is not limited to a mechanism to automatically manipulate the controls of the rifle or firing system responsible for intentional change in the point of aim (example: rifle scope elevation and windage turrets) to lead to better accuracy and hit probability, reduction in collateral damage, and other parameters that may be deemed beneficial to the operator or his objective.

In one embodiment, the invention includes systems and methods for a firing solution acquisition system comprising, one or more sensors configured to monitor the temperature of one or more components of a rifle firing pathway; one or more timers configured to predict the temperature of one or more components of a rifle firing pathway; and a computer device having an executable program configured to receive inputs from said timer(s) and said sensor(s) and generate a firing solution, wherein said firing solution is transmitted to a firing solution display device, such as a laptop, mobile phone, or a tablet computing device, having an audio/visual display capable of transmitting said firing solution to said operator. In a preferred embodiment, the operator may override said firing solution provided by said firing solution acquisition system. In another preferred embodiment, a firing solution may be communicated to a firing solution display and may comprise: a numerical display communicating said firing solution, an audible description of said firing solution or modification to said firing solution; and instructions sent directly to the rifle firing system, or an associated component in communication with said rifle configured to automatically compensate for the output of the firing solution.

In one embodiment, the invention includes systems and methods for a firing solution acquisition system wherein the temperature changes in one or more firearm components is measured and communicated to a data acquisition and ballistic calculator device. In a preferred embodiment, thermal sensors and timers track and communicate to a data acquisition and ballistic calculator device the temperature changes an ammunition propellant, a cartridge, a bullet, a barrel, a receiver, a chamber, a bolt, and/or a magazine among others.

In another aspect, when teams are located near to one another, it may be advantageous for firing solution data to be shared. With the introduction of a visual tracking system of the flight path of the projectile or impact of the projectile on or at or at some position relative to the target, the ballistic calculator can transmit firing solution information to one or more operators. These secondary operators can even be located far away from the primary operator, however the data processing algorithms can be used to shift the primary firing solution to the second operator in a way where his change in position is accounted for. In this scenario, the primary operator could have a high fidelity firing solution and after the shot is taken, the firing solution can be further refined and sent to a second operator for a follow up shot on the same target. This allows the location of the primary operator to remain hidden.

In another aspect, the invention includes systems and methods of monitoring of the flight path and/or impact of a projectile from a firearm for subsequent refinements of the firing solution for the operator or the transmission of this information to another operator who may or may not be located near the first operator. In one embodiment, this system includes a visual monitoring device, such as a high resolution camera or telescope, located on or off the firing system and configured for visual, infrared, and/or other optical observations and data capturing. This visual monitoring device of the invention can observe where the projectile travels after it is fired. This device, or a data acquisition and ballistic calculator device, can then calculate the difference in this location relative to where the firing solution thought the projectile would travel and/or impact the target and adjust accordingly so the next follow-on shot could be taken. This embodiment, generates a feedback loop so that the novel data acquisition and ballistic calculator device can make a prediction and then view the event and refine the prediction. In one embodiment, the system could incorporate a GPS, compass, and/or other position telemetry equipment so that it could transmit a refined firing solution to another secondary user, updated for the difference in his position. A benefit of this system is that even if the operator fails to observe the impact of the projectile, due to some factor (such as recoil of the firing system) the feedback can still be obtained. This will be superior to the current method of trying to observe the impact of the projectile using the firing systems primary optic and making a estimation of the correct needed with the naked eye. Also of note is that this allows the shooter to still use a conventional riflescope which has higher resolution than a digital riflescope.

Additional aspects of the invention will become apparent from the specification, figures and drawings presented herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1: shows a schematic firing solution acquisition system by which one or more sensors take temperature, time, or other measurements of the firing system and use these measurements in computer system to generate for the operator of the firing system a high-fidelity firing solution in one embodiment thereof.

FIG. 2: shows a schematic firing solution acquisition system by which one or more sensors take temperature, time, or other measurements of the firing system and use these measurements in computer system to generate for the operator of the firing system a high-fidelity, and a system for monitoring of the flight path and/or impact of a projectile from a firearm for subsequent refinements of the firing solution for the operator or the transmission of this information to another operator who may or may not be located near the first operator in one embodiment thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

The firing solution acquisition system of the invention may use sensors as temperature sensors (5-8) and one or more timers (14) to allow for the generation of a high-fidelity firing solution (16) that accounts for physical phenomena that cannot be eliminated from the firing system including but not limited to thermally sensitive ammunition propellant burn profiles, projectile velocities, other thermally sensitive firing system components (rifle barrels), as temperatures fluctuate due to influence from either external or internal firing system component temperatures and heat flow. As a result, the firing solution acquisition system of the invention is the first implementation of temperature sensors, timers, to allow for the optimization of a firing solution (16) despite thermally sensitive and performance-variable components inherent to and necessary for the operation of the firing system.

As generally shown in FIG. 1 below, the novel firing solution acquisition system of the invention may include an ammunition storage component (1) may be responsive to a first thermal sensor (8), also generally referred to a sensor, or temperature sensors, that may be configured to monitor the temperature of the ammunition storage component (1), which may include a temperature measurement of the ammunition stored in the ammunition storage component (1) generally being referred to as a first temperature. This first temperature data measurement may be communicated to a data acquisition and ballistic calculator device (9). Communication with the data acquisition and ballistic calculator device (9) may be through a wired or a wireless signal.

The ammunition storage component (1) of the invention may be in mechanical communication with a firing system (3), such as a chassis/receiver complex comprising an upper and lower receive and bolt and firing mechanisms. The firing system (3) of the invention may be responsive to a second thermal sensor (7) that may be configured to monitor the temperature of one or more components of the firing system (3), or the internal environment generally of the chamber formed by a chassis and receiver of the firing system (3). This measurement may generally be referred to as a second temperature. This second temperature data measurement may be communicated to a data acquisition and ballistic calculator device (9). Communication with the data acquisition and ballistic calculator device (9) may also be through a wired or a wireless signal.

Again, as shown in FIG. 1, the firing system (3) of the invention may be in mechanical communication with a barrel component (15), which may include a barrel, or a barrel assembly including a barrel, muzzle break or a suppressor. The barrel component (15) of the invention may be responsive to a third thermal sensor (6) that may be configured to monitor the temperature of the barrel component (15). This measurement may generally be referred to as a third temperature. This third temperature data measurement may be communicated to a data acquisition and ballistic calculator device (9). Communication with the data acquisition and ballistic calculator device (9) may also be through a wired or a wireless signal.

Again, as shown in FIG. 1, the firing system (3) of the invention may be in mechanical communication with one or more auxiliary firing system components (4) such as a stock, a scope mount, a scope tube, a barrel guard, a trigger guard, a folding hinge, a fore-end piece, and a grip mount. One or more auxiliary firing system components (4) of the invention may be responsive to a fourth thermal sensor (5) that may be configured to monitor the temperature of one or more firearm system components. This measurement may generally be referred to as a fourth temperature. This fourth temperature data measurement may be communicated to a data acquisition and ballistic calculator device (9). Communication with the data acquisition and ballistic calculator device (9) may also be through a wired or a wireless signal.

As further showing in FIG. 1, the novel firing solution acquisition system of the invention may include one or more timers (14) that may identify and track of predictable heat flow between thermally sensitive components of the firing system. This measurement may generally be referred to as the timer data (13). This timer data (13) measurement may be communicated to a data acquisition and ballistic calculator device (9). Communication with the data acquisition and ballistic calculator device (9) may also be through a wired or a wireless signal. Notably, the first, second, third and fourth temperatures may collectively be referred to a thermal sensor data (10) generally.

Referring again to FIG. 1, in a preferred embodiment a temperature and timing data (10, 13) may be received by a data acquisition and ballistic calculator device (9). In a preferred embodiment, the data acquisition and ballistic calculator device (9) of the invention may include a computing device which is configured with a computer executable program to convert the temperature and timing data (10, 13) into a ballistic firing solution (16). In a preferred embodiment, ballistic firing solution (16) may be transmitted to a firing solution display (11) and further displayed as a numerical or visual display of the firing solution (16). In another embodiment, the data acquisition and ballistic calculator device (9) of the invention can receive additional input apart from temperature and timing data (10,13), including but not limited to inputs from environmental sensors that can be used to compute a firing solution (16).

In a preferred embodiment, embedded data acquisition systems, such as temperature sensors, transmit temperature and timing data (10, 13) to a computer system having a computer executable program configured to process these inputs to generate an accurate firing solution (16). The computer system may further include a computer executable program configured to process this information configured to generate and transmit the firing solution (16) as well as feedback or instructions to the operator (12) of the firing system by means including but not limited to a visual display, audible instructions, autonomous corrections to the point of aim, or a combination thereof. Autonomous corrections that may be communicated to the operator may be configured such that they can be overridden by individuals including but not limited to the operator or operators of the firing system and by management/support team members both nearby and remote.

Inputs to the data acquisition and ballistic calculator device (9) may include a target range as determined by laser rangefinder, a magnetic bearing or azimuth angle (e.g., X° Northwest, Y° South, etc.), a tilt angle of the rifle, a cant angle of the rifle, and/or a wind measurement. Each of these inputs may be provided by external systems, or may be provided by sensors and displayed in real-time. Naturally, algorithms capable of calculating firing solutions (16) may be commercially available from companies such as Applied Ballistics® and/or Kestrel®. The effects of temperature on various firearm components are further incorporated into the algorithms capable of calculating firing solutions (16), which are disclosed in PCT/US2020/054637, which is incorporated herein by reference.

Again, generally referring to FIG. 1 above, the components of the novel firing solution acquisition system of the invention consist of multiple systems that may or may not be located in close proximity to each other. In general, timer and types of thermal sensors including but not limited to thermocouples, thermometers, infrared measurement devices, may be directly or indirectly connected to the components of the firing system which they measure. These sensors may use a data acquisition system to deliver their measurements to a data acquisition and ballistic calculator device (9) having an executable program configured to generate and transmit a high-fidelity firing solution (16) to one or more operators (12). The computer or network may then convey this information to the operator (12) so that they may choose to make manual corrections to the firing system's point of aim based on the output, autonomously accept the output, or ignore the output. By using the output of this novel invention, the operator's mission effectiveness is improved.

Generally referring to FIG. 2, in one embodiment a secondary device may be incorporated into the novel firing solution acquisition system of the invention and connected either physically or wirelessly to the auxiliary firing system (4), or other component of the firearm. In one embodiment, an optical data capturing system (17), such as a camera or other similar device with position sensing telemetry information (18) may be configured can observe a down range target (19) and provide its observation data back to the data acquisition and processing system (9). The data acquisition and processing system (9) can then provide further refined instructions (21) back to the operator (12) through the display device (11) or another modified firing solution (22) to one or more secondary operators (20) with their own position information equipment (23) so that their firing solution takes the feedback observed by the optical data capturing system (17) and in conjunction with the firing solution of the data acquisition and processing system (9) adjusts for the position of a secondary operator (20). In one embodiment, the use of tracer rounds may be incorporated into the system since they are more easily observable by the optical data capturing system (17) of the invention.

Naturally as can be appreciated, all of the steps as herein described may be accomplished in some embodiments through any appropriate machine and/or device resulting in the transformation of, for example data, data processing, data transformation, external devices, operations, and the like. It should also be noted that in some embodiments, software and/or software solution may be utilized to carry out the objectives of the invention and may be defined as software stored on a magnetic or optical disk or other appropriate physical computer readable media including wireless devices and/or smart phones. In alternative embodiments the software and/or data structures can be associated in combination with a computer or processor that operates on the data structure or utilizes the software. Further embodiments may include transmitting and/or loading and/or updating of the software on a computer perhaps remotely over the internet or through any other appropriate transmission machine or device, or even the executing of the software on a computer resulting in the data and/or other physical transformations as herein described.

Certain embodiments of the inventive technology may utilize a machine and/or device which may include a general purpose computer, a computer that can perform an algorithm, computer readable medium, software, computer readable medium continuing specific programming, a computer network, a server and receiver network, transmission elements, wireless devices and/or smart phones, internet transmission and receiving element; cloud-based storage and transmission systems, software updateable elements; computer routines and/or subroutines, computer readable memory, data storage elements, random access memory elements, and/or computer interface displays that may represent the data in a physically perceivable transformation such as visually displaying said processed data. In addition, as can be naturally appreciated, any of the steps as herein described may be accomplished in some embodiments through a variety of hardware applications including a keyboard, mouse, computer graphical interface, voice activation or input, server, receiver and any other appropriate hardware device known by those of ordinary skill in the art.

As used herein, a machine learning system or model is a trained computational model that takes a feature of interest, such as the generation of a firing solution. Examples of machine learning models include neural networks, including recurrent neural networks and convolutional neural networks; random forests models, including random forests; restricted Boltzmann machines; recurrent tensor networks; and gradient boosted trees. The term “classifier” (or classification model) is sometimes used to describe all forms of classification model including deep learning models (e.g., neural networks having many layers) as well as random forests models.

As used herein, a machine learning system may include a deep learning model that may include a function approximation method aiming to develop custom dictionaries configured to achieve a given task, be it classification or dimension reduction. It may be implemented in various forms such as by a neural network (e.g., a convolutional neural network), etc. In general, though not necessarily, it includes multiple layers. Each such layer includes multiple processing nodes and the layers process in sequence, with nodes of layers closer to the model input layer processing before nodes of layers closer to the model output. In various embodiments, one-layer feeds to the next, etc. The output layer may include nodes that represent various classifications. In certain embodiments, machine learning systems may include artificial neural networks (ANNs) which are a type of computational system that can learn the relationships between an input data set and a target data set. ANN name originates from a desire to develop a simplified mathematical representation of a portion of the human neural system, intended to capture its “learning” and “generalization” abilities. ANNs are a major foundation in the field of artificial intelligence. ANNs are widely applied in research because they can model highly non-linear systems in which the relationship among the variables is unknown or very complex. ANNs are typically trained on empirically observed data sets. The data set may conventionally be divided into a training set, a test set, and a validation set. Having now described the inventive technology, the same will be illustrated with reference to certain examples, which are included herein for illustration purposes only, and which are not intended to be limiting of the invention.

As used herein, “firing solution” means the setup for control of the aiming and firing of a projectile from a firearm, such as a rifle. The term “rifle” as used here, means a projectile controlling instrument or weapon configured to aim and propel or shoot a projectile, and rifle sights or projectile weapon aiming systems are discussed principally with reference to their use on rifles and embodied in telescopic sights commonly known as rifle scopes. It will become apparent, however, that projectile weapon aiming systems may include aiming devices other than rifle scopes, and may be used on instruments or weapons other than rifles which are capable of controlling and propelling projectiles along substantially pre-determinable trajectories (e.g., rail guns or cannon). The term “rifle firing pathway” means the pathway that a cartridge or bullet travels from its storage in a magazine to the rifle chamber and out the barrel. Included in this definition are all firearm components that directly or indirectly are physically or thermally coupled with the firing pathway. 

1-10. (canceled)
 11. A firing solution acquisition system comprising: one or more thermal sensors configured to monitor the temperature of one or more components of a rifle firing pathway; a data acquisition and ballistic calculator device having an executable program configured to receive inputs from said sensor(s) and generate a firing solution, wherein said firing solution is transmitted to a firing solution display device having an audio/visual display capable of transmitting said firing solution to and operator.
 12. The system of claim 11, and further comprising one or more timers configured to predict the temperature of one or more components of a rifle firing pathway.
 13. The system of claim 11, wherein said firing solution display device comprises a laptop, mobile phone, or a tablet computing device.
 14. The system of claim 11, wherein said inputs are wirelessly transmitted to a data acquisition and ballistic calculator device.
 15. The system of claim 11, wherein said rifle firing pathway comprises an ammunition storage components, a firing system components, and a barrel component.
 16. The system of claim 11, wherein said wherein said rifle firing pathway comprises an ammunition storage components, a firing system components, a barrel component, and one or more auxiliary firing system components.
 17. The system of claim 11, temperature of one or more components of said rifle firing pathway comprises a temperature change in one or more of the following components: an ammunition propellant, a cartridge, a bullet, a barrel, a receiver, a chamber, a bolt, and a magazine.
 18. The system of claim 11, wherein said sensor comprises a thermocouple, a thermometer, or an infrared measurement device. 19-20. (canceled)
 21. A firing solution acquisition and monitoring communication system comprising: one or more thermal sensors configured to monitor the temperature of one or more components of a rifle firing pathway; a data acquisition and ballistic calculator device having an executable program configured to receive inputs from said sensor(s) and generate a firing solution, wherein said firing solution is transmitted to a firing solution display device having an audio/visual display capable of transmitting said firing solution to and operator; an optical data capturing system configured to capture and transmit the path of a projectile traveling along said firing solution provided by said data acquisition and ballistic calculator.
 22. The system of claim 21, and further comprising one or more timers configured to predict the temperature of one or more components of a rifle firing pathway.
 23. The system of claim 21, wherein said firing solution display device comprises a laptop, mobile phone, or a tablet computing device.
 24. The system of claim 21, wherein said inputs are wirelessly transmitted to a data acquisition and ballistic calculator device.
 25. The system of claim 21, wherein said rifle firing pathway comprises an ammunition storage components, a firing system components, and a barrel component.
 26. The system of claim 21, wherein said wherein said rifle firing pathway comprises an ammunition storage components, a firing system components, a barrel component, and one or more auxiliary firing system components.
 27. The system of claim 21, temperature of one or more components of said rifle firing pathway comprises a temperature change in one or more of the following components: an ammunition propellant, a cartridge, a bullet, a barrel, a receiver, a chamber, a bolt, and a magazine.
 28. The system of claim 21, wherein said sensor comprises a thermocouple, a thermometer, or an infrared measurement device. 29-30. (canceled)
 31. The system of claim 21, wherein said system of claim optical data capturing system comprises a high resolution camera or telescope.
 32. The system of claim 31, wherein said high resolution camera or telescope is positioned separately from the rifle.
 33. The system of claim 32, wherein said high resolution camera or telescope is configured for visual, infrared and data capturing of the flight path of a projective along said firing solution.
 34. The system of claim 21, wherein said wherein said data acquisition and ballistic calculator generates and transmits a modified firing solution to one or more secondary operators.
 35. (canceled) 